A vastly-experienced centre-back who passed 650 career appearances this season, Michael Nelson is captain of Barnet Football Club after joining the Bees in the summer of 2015.

Signed on a one-year deal after leaving Cambridge United – where he played with Tom Champion – Michael forced his way into Martin Allen's plans and ended the 2015/16 campaign with a new deal his reward for 32 outings in all competitions.

Michael started his career in non-league football with Leek Town, Spennymoor United and Bishop Auckland before moving into the professional game with Bury in 2001.

After two seasons at Gigg Lane he moved to his native North East to join Hartlepool United. He was a virtual ever-present for six seasons and helped Pools into League One by finishing runners up in League Two in 2007.

His form for the North East outfit earned a move to Norwich City in 2011 and Michael clinched the second promotion of his professional career as the Canaries walked to the League One title.

Game time in the Championship became more limited for Michael and he moved to Scunthorpe United in January 2011 only to move north of the border a year later, joining Kilmarnock and winning the Scottish League Cup in his first season.

Another January switch beckoned in 2013 as Michael joined Bradford City for £30,000 but was on the move against in August 2013, return to the SPL to join Hibernian.

A year in Edinburg ended in August 2014 when Michael was snapped up by Cambridge United, playing in the FA Cup against Manchester United before linking up with the Bees.